A card processing apparatus detects an insertion/non-insertion of a card and a position of an inserted card regardless of any existence/non-existence of an opaque part on any position of the card. A first card detector is disposed at a first position in a conveying path, a second card detector is disposed at a second position after the first card detector, and a third card detector is disposed at a third position in the conveying path. A conveying mechanism is controlled by detection signals outputted from the first to third card detectors. Each of the card detectors include an operating member movable from a standby position to a shifted position due to contact with the card. A sensor detects any displacement of the operating member, wherein one of the detection signals provides a detection/non-detection of a card, an insertion or non-insertion of a card and an inserted card position.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A card processing apparatus comprising: a first card insertion section having a first card insertion hole; a conveying section for conveying a card inserted through the first card insertion hole along a predetermined conveying path; a conveying mechanism for conveying an inserted card forward or backward along the conveying path by driving the conveying section; a first card detector provided at a first position in the conveying path, wherein the first position is adjacent to the first card insertion hole; a second card detector provided at a second position in the conveying path, wherein the second position is apart from the first card detector backward along the conveying path at a predetermined distance; a third card detector provided at a third position in the conveying path, wherein the third position is apart from the second card detector backward along the conveying path at a predetermined distance; a control section for controlling the conveying mechanism based on a first detection signal sent from the first card detector, a second detection signal sent from the second card detector, and a third detection signal sent from the third card detector; wherein each of the first card detector, the second card detector, and the third card detector comprises a movable operating member which is moved from a standby position to a shifted position due to contact with a card which is being conveyed on the conveying path, and a sensor for detecting a movement of the operating member from the standby position to the shifted position; the standby position of the operating member is defined at a position where an inserted card which is being conveyed on the conveying path is contactable with the operating member at an opposing edge of the card, and the operating member is moved by the moving card toward outside of the conveying path to reach the shifted position; the first, second, and third card detectors are respectively provided at the first, second, and third positions in such a way that the operating members in the first, second, and third card detectors can be simultaneously moved to the corresponding shifted positions by a card conveyed on the conveying path; and the control section judges insertion or non-insertion of a card through the first card insertion hole and a position of a card on the conveying path based on a combination of which one of the first, second, and third detection signals is a signal notifying that a card is detected or a signal notifying that a card is not detected; and wherein in each of the first, second, and third card detectors, the operating member comprises a resilient shaft having a first fixed end and a second displaceable end, and the operating member is attached to the second end of the shaft so as to be contactable to a card conveyed on the conveying path; when a card conveyed on the conveying path is contacted with the operating member, the shaft is resiliently deformed to make a movement of the operating member to the shifted position from the standby position, wherein the movement of the operating member is detected by the sensor; and the operating member is immediately returned to the standby position if the contact of the operating member with the card is released.
A card processing apparatus reads cards using three sensors along a card's path. A motor moves the card forward or backward. Each sensor has a pivoting arm that the card pushes aside as it moves. The apparatus detects a card's presence and position based on which sensors are triggered. The sensors use a springy shaft attached to the pivoting arm. When a card touches the arm, it bends the shaft, which the sensor detects. When the card moves away, the arm springs back to its original position. The controller knows if a card is inserted and where it is based on signals from the three detectors and will react accordingly by moving the card back and forth as necessary.
2. The card processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the conveying section comprises a pair of sidewalls provided respectively on two sides of the conveying path; and in each of the first, second, and third card detectors, the operating member is provided on one of the pair of sidewalls in such a way as to be retractably projected from the conveying path.
The card processing apparatus described above includes sidewalls on both sides of the card's path. The pivoting arms of the three sensors are located on one of these sidewalls. Each arm extends slightly into the card's path, so the card makes contact as it passes. The operating member is provided on one of the pair of sidewalls in such a way as to be retractably projected from the conveying path.
3. The card processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the operating member is rotatable or pivotable around the shaft.
The card processing apparatus described above includes pivoting arms on the three sensors that rotate or pivot around the springy shaft. The operating member is rotatable or pivotable around the shaft.
4. The card processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein when the first detection signal is a signal notifying that a card is detected and the second and third detection signals are signals notifying that a card is not detected, the control section judges that a card is inserted into the apparatus through the first card insertion hole, thereby conveying the card backward by driving the conveying mechanism.
In the card processing apparatus described above, when the first sensor (closest to the card insertion point) detects a card, but the other two sensors don't, the device assumes a card was just inserted. The motor then drives the card backwards into the device. When the first detection signal is a signal notifying that a card is detected and the second and third detection signals are signals notifying that a card is not detected, the control section judges that a card is inserted into the apparatus through the first card insertion hole, thereby conveying the card backward by driving the conveying mechanism.
5. The card processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein when all of the first, second, and third detection signals are signals notifying that a card is not detected, the control section judges that a card inserted through the first card insertion hole is completely introduced into the apparatus, thereby stopping conveyance of the card by stopping the conveying mechanism.
In the card processing apparatus described above, if none of the three sensors detect a card, the device assumes the card has been fully inserted. The motor is then stopped. When all of the first, second, and third detection signals are signals notifying that a card is not detected, the control section judges that a card inserted through the first card insertion hole is completely introduced into the apparatus, thereby stopping conveyance of the card by stopping the conveying mechanism.
6. The card processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein when the control section detects successive changes of the third and second detection signals from signals notifying that a card is detected to signals notifying that a card is not detected, the control section judges that ejection of a card is instructed and stops the conveying mechanism to thereby stop conveyance of a card.
In the card processing apparatus described above, the controller monitors the second and third sensors. If they both change from detecting a card to not detecting one, in that order, the device assumes the user wants to eject the card. The motor is stopped, halting the card's movement. When the control section detects successive changes of the third and second detection signals from signals notifying that a card is detected to signals notifying that a card is not detected, the control section judges that ejection of a card is instructed and stops the conveying mechanism to thereby stop conveyance of a card.
7. The card processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: a second card insertion section having a second card insertion hole, which is provided on the conveying path on an opposite side to the first card insertion hole; and a fourth card detector for sending a fourth detection signal, which is provided at a fourth position in the conveying path, wherein the fourth position is adjacent to the second card insertion hole; wherein the fourth detector is provided at the fourth position in such a way that the operating members in the first, second, third, and fourth card detectors can be simultaneously kept at the corresponding standby positions when a card conveyed on the conveying path is located between the third and fourth card detectors; and when the fourth detection signal is a signal notifying a card is detected, the control section judges that a card is inserted through the second card insertion hole, thereby conveying the card forward by driving the conveying mechanism.
The card processing apparatus described above adds a second card insertion slot on the opposite side of the card path, along with a fourth sensor near this new slot. The controller uses the fourth sensor's signal to know if a card was inserted into this new slot. When a card is located between the third and fourth card detectors, all operating members are in their standby position. If the fourth sensor detects a card, the motor moves the card forward. A second card insertion section having a second card insertion hole, which is provided on the conveying path on an opposite side to the first card insertion hole; and a fourth card detector for sending a fourth detection signal, which is provided at a fourth position in the conveying path, wherein the fourth position is adjacent to the second card insertion hole; wherein the fourth detector is provided at the fourth position in such a way that the operating members in the first, second, third, and fourth card detectors can be simultaneously kept at the corresponding standby positions when a card conveyed on the conveying path is located between the third and fourth card detectors; and when the fourth detection signal is a signal notifying a card is detected, the control section judges that a card is inserted through the second card insertion hole, thereby conveying the card forward by driving the conveying mechanism.
8. The card processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein in each of the first, second, and third card detectors, the operating member is formed by a roller-shaped member which is supported by the resilient shaft; and the operating member is resiliently movable to the shifted position from the standby position due to contact with a card to provide a signal of the card's position in the card processing apparatus.
The card processing apparatus described above uses roller-shaped pivoting arms on the three sensors. These rollers are attached to the springy shaft and move when a card pushes them. The roller's movement provides a signal indicating the card's position. The operating member is formed by a roller-shaped member which is supported by the resilient shaft; and the operating member is resiliently movable to the shifted position from the standby position due to contact with a card to provide a signal of the card's position in the card processing apparatus.
9. The card processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein in each of the first, second, and third card detectors, the sensor is configured to detect optically a movement of the operating member due to contact with a card between the standby position and the shifted position; and when the operating member is displaced by contact with a card to the shifted position from the standby position, the sensor sends a corresponding one of the first, second, and third detection signals notifying that a card is detected.
The card processing apparatus described above uses optical sensors to detect the movement of the pivoting arms on the three sensors. When a card pushes the arm, the optical sensor registers the movement and sends a signal. The sensor is configured to detect optically a movement of the operating member due to contact with a card between the standby position and the shifted position; and when the operating member is displaced by contact with a card to the shifted position from the standby position, the sensor sends a corresponding one of the first, second, and third detection signals notifying that a card is detected.
10. The card processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein in each of the first, second, and third card detectors, the sensor comprises a light emitter for emitting a light beam along a predetermined optical axis, and a light receiver for receiving the beam; and when the operating member is displaced by contact with a card to the shifted position from the standby position, the operating member blocks the optical axis of the light emitter and the sensor sends a corresponding one of the first, second, and third detection signals notifying that a card is detected.
The card processing apparatus described above implements the sensors using a light beam between a light emitter and receiver. The pivoting arm, when moved by a card, blocks the light beam. This interruption signals that a card is present. The sensor comprises a light emitter for emitting a light beam along a predetermined optical axis, and a light receiver for receiving the beam; and when the operating member is displaced by contact with a card to the shifted position from the standby position, the operating member blocks the optical axis of the light emitter and the sensor sends a corresponding one of the first, second, and third detection signals notifying that a card is detected.
11. The card processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein when all of the first, second, and third detection signals from the first, second, and third card detectors are signals notifying that a card is not detected, the control section judges that an introducing process of a card introduced into the apparatus through the first card insertion hole is completed.
The card processing apparatus described above determines that the insertion process is complete when none of the first, second, and third sensors detect a card. When all of the first, second, and third detection signals from the first, second, and third card detectors are signals notifying that a card is not detected, the control section judges that an introducing process of a card introduced into the apparatus through the first card insertion hole is completed.
12. The card processing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein when the fourth detection signal from the fourth detector changes from a signal notifying that a card is detected to a signal notifying that a card is not detected and thereafter, the third detection signal from the third detector changes from a signal notifying that a card is detected to a signal notifying that a card is not detected, the control section judges that an introducing process of a card introduced into the apparatus through the second card insertion hole is completed.
In the card processing apparatus described above, which includes the second card insertion slot and fourth sensor, the controller tracks signals. It waits for the fourth sensor to stop detecting a card, then waits for the third sensor to stop detecting a card. This sequence means the card has been fully inserted through the second slot. When the fourth detection signal from the fourth detector changes from a signal notifying that a card is detected to a signal notifying that a card is not detected and thereafter, the third detection signal from the third detector changes from a signal notifying that a card is detected to a signal notifying that a card is not detected, the control section judges that an introducing process of a card introduced into the apparatus through the second card insertion hole is completed.
13. The card processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein when the third, second, and first detection signals from the third, second, and first detectors change successively from signals notifying that a card is not detected to signals notifying that a card is detected and thereafter, the third and second detection signals change successively from signals notifying that a card is detected to signals notifying that a card is not detected and the first detection signal is kept as a signal notifying that a card is detected, the control section judges that an ejecting process of a card introduced into the apparatus through the first or second card insertion hole is completed.
The card processing apparatus described above monitors the sensor signals to determine when a card ejection is complete. The third, second and first sensors must sequentially change from 'no card' to 'card' and then the third and second sensors must sequentially change back to 'no card', while the first sensor remains on 'card'. This indicates the card has been fully ejected. When the third, second, and first detection signals from the third, second, and first detectors change successively from signals notifying that a card is not detected to signals notifying that a card is detected and thereafter, the third and second detection signals change successively from signals notifying that a card is detected to signals notifying that a card is not detected and the first detection signal is kept as a signal notifying that a card is detected, the control section judges that an ejecting process of a card introduced into the apparatus through the first or second card insertion hole is completed.
14. The card processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the movable operating member is configured to contact a side edge of an inserted card.
In the card processing apparatus described above, the pivoting arms of the sensors are designed to make contact with the side edge of the inserted card. The movable operating member is configured to contact a side edge of an inserted card.
15. The card processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the movable operating member has a shape selected from a group consisting of a cylinder, a circular plate, a hexagonal plate, a semicircular plate, a rectangular plate and an ellipsoidal plate.
In the card processing apparatus described above, the pivoting arms can be shaped as a cylinder, circular plate, hexagonal plate, semicircular plate, rectangular plate or ellipsoidal plate. The movable operating member has a shape selected from a group consisting of a cylinder, a circular plate, a hexagonal plate, a semicircular plate, a rectangular plate and an ellipsoidal plate.
16. A card processing apparatus comprising: a first card insertion section having a first card insertion hole; a conveying section for conveying a card inserted through the first card insertion hole along a predetermined conveying path; a conveying mechanism for conveying an inserted card forward or backward along the conveying path by driving the conveying section; a first card detector provided at a first position in the conveying path, wherein the first position is adjacent to the first card insertion hole; a second card detector provided at a second position in the conveying path, wherein the second position is apart from the first card detector and backward along the conveying path at a predetermined distance; a third card detector provided at a third position in the conveying path, wherein the third position is apart from the second card detector and backward along the conveying path at a predetermined distance; a control section for controlling the conveying mechanism based on a first detection signal sent from the first card detector, a second detection signal sent from the second card detector, and a third detection signal sent from the third card detector; wherein each of the first card detector, the second card detector, and the third card detector comprises a movable operating member which is moved from a standby position to a shifted position due to contact with a side edge of an inserted card which is being conveyed on the conveying path, and a sensor for detecting a movement of the movable operating member from the standby position to the shifted position; the standby position of the operating member is defined at a position where an inserted card which is being conveyed on the conveying path is contactable with the operating member at an opposing edge of the card, and the operating member is moved by the moving card toward outside of the conveying path to reach the shifted position; the first, second, and third card detectors are respectively provided at the first, second, and third positions in such a way that the operating members in the first, second, and third card detectors can be simultaneously moved to the corresponding shifted positions by a card conveyed on the conveying path; and the control section judges insertion or non-insertion of a card through the first card insertion hole and a position of a card on the conveying path based on a combination of which one of the first, second, and third detection signals is a signal notifying that a card is detected or a signal notifying that a card is not detected; and wherein in each of the first, second, and third card detectors, and inserted card which is being conveyed on the conveying path has a side edge contactable with the operating member; the operating member is moved toward a shifted position on a side of the card and outside of the conveying path due to contact with the card to reach the shifted position; the operating member is biased to immediately return to the standby position when the contact of the operating member with the side edge of the card is released; the operating member includes a resilient shaft having a first fixed end and a send displaceable end; the operating member is attached to the second end of the shaft so as to be contactable to the card conveyed on the conveying path; and when a card conveyed on the conveying path is contacted with the operating member, the resilient shaft is resiliently deformed to make a movement of the operating member to the shifted position from the standby position, wherein the movement of the operating member is detected by the sensor.
A card processing apparatus uses three sensors to detect card presence/position. The sensors each have an operating member that is contacted by the card's side edge. The sensor sends a signal that changes depending on whether it is being contacted by the card. The operating member is mounted on a resilient shaft that is deflected when the operating member is displaced by the card. The control section moves the card forward or backward based on the signals from the three sensors.
17. The card processing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein when the third detection signal is a signal notifying that a card is detected and the first and second detection signals are signals notifying that a card is not detected after the fourth detection signal is changed from a signal notifying that a card is detected to a signal notifying that a card is not detected, the control section judges that a card which is inserted into the apparatus through the second card insertion hole is conveyed to a data reading/writing section, thereby conveying the card backward by driving the conveying mechanism until the third detection signal is changed to a signal notifying that a card is not detected.
The card processing apparatus with two insertion slots has specific card movement logic for cards inserted through the second slot. After the fourth sensor (near the second slot) no longer detects a card, if the third sensor *does* detect a card while the first and second sensors *do not*, the device moves the card backwards (towards a data read/write section) until the third sensor no longer detects the card. This positions the card for processing. When the third detection signal is a signal notifying that a card is detected and the first and second detection signals are signals notifying that a card is not detected after the fourth detection signal is changed from a signal notifying that a card is detected to a signal notifying that a card is not detected, the control section judges that a card which is inserted into the apparatus through the second card insertion hole is conveyed to a data reading/writing section, thereby conveying the card backward by driving the conveying mechanism until the third detection signal is changed to a signal notifying that a card is not detected.
18. The card processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein when the third detection signal is changed to a signal notifying that a card is not detected, the control section judges that conveyance of a card which is inserted into the apparatus through the second card insertion hole is completed, thereby stopping conveyance of the card by stopping the conveying mechanism.
In the card processing apparatus described above, when processing a card inserted through the second card slot, when the third sensor stops detecting a card, the motor stops. This signifies that the card is properly positioned after being inserted through the second slot. When the third detection signal is changed to a signal notifying that a card is not detected, the control section judges that conveyance of a card which is inserted into the apparatus through the second card insertion hole is completed, thereby stopping conveyance of the card by stopping the conveying mechanism.
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December 10, 2015
July 18, 2017
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